My style has evolved immensely over the years, but there are certain looks and pieces that I will always and instantly feel like "myself" in. I am uncontrollably drawn to pencil shapes, pearls, drapey blouses, tweed, and a little Chanel...and this outfit embodies it all. Looking back on my first few posts (here and here), I embraced these pieces and aspired to channel this look even when I was clueless about putting together outfits.

If asked today about my signature style, I can answer with confidence (after years of experimentation and cultivating my wardrobe) that it's comprised of:
- a combination of classic and feminine looks
- figure-defining but not revealing silhouettes
- a variety of soft textures; and
- a mix of splurge pieces and bargain finds I've tried to "get more" out of my dresses before by wearing them as a top, but the bottom part just became too uncomfortable when layered under another skirt. Inspired by the combo at the bottom of this page, I did the reverse here with a very lightweight blouse...
It was much more comfortable than the other way around, and easier to keep in place (tied a knot in the front center and tucked it in, then folded the back of the blouse under a skinny waist belt).

I am a bit obsessed with these cropped tweed jackets from Uniqueen (see full review here) but I do want to note a few things:

- This jacket definitely runs smaller than that of Western brands, however sizing appears to be slightly inconsistent. A "Small" is equivalent to an XXS-XS in American sizing or H&M 2-4. I heard from the owner that several ladies were disappointed that the jacket was too small, so I want to reiterate this. As for consistency...I tried on a total of three jackets - two fit me perfectly (except for sleeve length) and one was too big. I expressed my concerns to the owner and she has asked her factory to be very careful when hand-cutting the pieces, however I suspect there may still be some inconsistencies.

- I initially suggested simply pulling out the tinsel-like metallic
trim. That worked well for me on my first jacket, but I yanked them out
too hastily for this one and you may see that the edges of the jacket
are now curved up. They won't flatten back down no matter how much I
pull on or iron them. If you want to remove the sparkly trim, please,
please do so carefully at your own risk.

- The "Cream Ivory" is not ivory - it is a stark white. I have gotten a lot of wear out of this with spring/summer colors, neutrals, as well as denim.

- Last but not least, there has been such a response from you guys for Uniqueen tweed jackets that I asked if they'd consider some reader giveaways. They agreed, so please stayed tuned for a chance to win one of your choice.

Hello! I was wondering if you could show us how you tucked your blouse into your dress...I looked at your older post with the green dress where you also did this and would love to learn this genius technique! :) Thanks, Jean!

I love the classic feminine style and this outfit is gorgeous! I love the soft pink color of the dress and how you paired it with taupe pieces. Thanks for the heads up on your experience with pulling out the tinsel trim. I was debating whether I should pull it out on mine but I think I'll just hold off for now :)

I've always looked to you for classic and flattering outfits, seriously, I love visiting your blog for info, and inspo. My signature style...hmm...I love experimenting with a lot of different textures and items, that wouldn't necessarily go together in the first place, but a lot of the time I'd say very girly, and quirky. My range can go anywhere from combat boots to nude pumps to crazy prints, so right now I can't really say but I do believe that fashion is an opportunity to do what you feel is good every morning even if it isn't necessarily your norm.

i am always stumped when people ask me what my style is. i am a bit of everything really. i will try *almost* any trend. love boho chi and feminine pieces...but i'm not afraid of edgy looks either. i always like to ask people how they think i dress and most of the time their first response is feminine. i am definitely more comfortable in a dress than pants. and now i'm rambling! btw, you look adorable.

Jean: My signature style is not that dissimilar to yours, which is why I enjoy your blog so much. I too prefer figure-outlining clothes, but as an "older woman," I need to be careful not to overdo it or I look ridiculous. Even though an old boyfriend told me once that I look like I'm sampling paints, I usually wear dark or neutral slacks for everyday, and an interesting top -- maybe knit, maybe a woven blouse, maybe a jacket, maybe a sweater. I'm finding, though, that it's no longer about the item for me -- it's all about the fit.

Question: Do you get your Chanel bags off eBay? I'm coveting one of them very much.

Hi Jane, I completely agree with you that it should be more about the fit than individual items. As for Chanel, I haven't yet purchased any from eBay (yet, I think) but I do have one from Bonanza which is very similar to eBay, except prices are all fixed.

I love this look! It's classic and cute without being too much. I am a total dork when it comes to "faking a fit" ( tm Kelly). Would you be willing to do an idiots guide with step by step pics of how you scrunch sleeves, tuck shirts into belts/dresses, etc? I like that your wardrobe doesn't have to be big to be useful!

This outfit is so “Extra Petite” =) That’s why I love your blog. You always stay true to your signature style even though it’s fun to try new trends from time to time. I'm always inspired when I see you wearing old pieces in a new way. You look so fresh and radiant in these photos.

I really like the neutral palette of this outfit, Jean. This is definitely a classic look for you and you wear it so well!

I love the idea of using the dress as a skirt instead of a top. I did it a few PFCs ago and received a lot of great feedback on it. A lot of readers emailed me asking for a more thorough description and it was a struggle trying to describe how I did it. I just saw an Anon above request a tutorial from you. That would be great for those who still don't understand!

my signature look: for several years now - I 'live' in skinny jeans, 100% silk blouses (preference for peter pan collars) and cashmere cardis in various shades of grey. faux Pearls and hermes kelly cuffs. I just find this an easy way of dressing, though the silk tops are pretty high maintenance. Nothing is expensive, mostly ZARA, Uniqlo and top shop. I like your signature look too - well actually I like most of your looks. I ve asked you this before if you can do something on handbags, what is a good rounded collection. THANK YOU again love your posts!

Hi Sophie - your signature pieces sound just lovely! I am slowly working on a good rounded collection of handbags (definitely have target pieces in mind but waiting for better prices) and will do a post if that collection is ever closer to completion : ) I think a good evening bag, a nice durable satchel, a clutch (even better if it's convertible), and a roomy tote are good starters.

Good look for sure although I'm not inlove with the jacket, it looks a little bit cheap, the other one you have in dark colors looks so much better. My signature look used to be black pants and a top in solid colors. Now I'm more like dresses in solid colors. I'm trying to buy some nice blazers but the good ones are soooo expensive. I'm going to try Zara this weekend.

I'm new to the blogging community and I happened upon your blog through blog lovin! I love the topic of your blog since I'm only 5' {technically 5' 1/2"} so it's hard for me to find clothes that perfectly fit as well! The trick is definitely a good but cheap tailor! Love your blog!

I love their tweed jackets also. But yes, they are a bit smaller than sizes here. I am usually a medium and the medium from them is a bit snug. Just a bit. And another top I bought from them was quite snug as well. They didn't have any other size.

Thanks for your very precise and critical review. It's nice to have someone else's view point to look to.

Thank you for sharing your signiture style with us. You have done a wonderful job of creating such a feminine and classic look! I love the soft color palette and the make up goes perfectly with it too. I also appreciate the explanation tucking in the blous to create the skirt look, it's something I've been experimentig with. Enjoy your weekend :)

Besides the change in your style, the tone of your blog entries and word choice had matured too. It really doesn't matter to me, but now it seems like you write with your readers in mind and to educate them and to share them of your failures/triumphs. Not that you didn't do that in the past, but now you're more aware of the impact of your blog therefore you always try to pass on honest opinions in a more positive and meaningful way.

I really enjoyed reading this post, probably because I've been reading your blog for a while. I tend to gravitate towards warm colours and jewellery, fitted pieces and feminine dresses.

When you said that you liked figure defining, but not revealing silhouettes, it reminded me of Edith Head. She said "A dress should be tight enough to show you're a woman and loose enough to prove you're a lady." Have you heard that quote before?

Thanks for introducing us to UniQueen's tweed jackets! I haven't had issues with them so far and love how I can use it to layer my outfits.

Jean, I just found this blog and love it - I'm always looking for inspiration to a classic timeless style and you just gave me so many ideas.

I have one question: You mention that you are very conscious of your spending and investing. I admire that you are able to save about half your income every month. If you don't mind, would you share how you do that? Do you set up a budget for yourself, or do you have a different system to save money? Do you save money each month for fashion?

I would love to know how to be better at saving and then investing when I would like to purchase a timeless purse for example. I know so many women who love fashion and want to afford a great designer piece but don't know how to arrange savings each month and spending in a way that makes them happy.

Hi Johanna, thank you very much for your comment and suggestion. I would love to do a post talking more about that and sharing my personal experience. It's really refreshing meeting other women who enjoy the topics saving and investing, yet don't frown upon the thought of themselves (or others) spending a lot on a wardrobe piece. To me it's more about the planning and making sure you're getting something you really want, of a good value (all subjective), and that you're still staying well below your means.

what a great look - your style is timeless and classic. it is just so wonderful to see different ways to use a dress. i've not yet used a dress as a top, given how you've had difficulties with the hem, but the concept is interesting. looking forward to seeing the uniqueen giveaway.. have been reluctant to go ahead just given the sizing issues, as you've reviewed. they look fantastic on you tho!

I'm usually a lurker on here, but wanted to comment on Uniqueen tweeds since the topic has come back up. Just bought a jacket from them using their 15% birthday discount and have also noticed the sizing/measurement inconsistencies: shoulder, bust, and waist widths were all about an inch larger than what is listed on their website (which exacerbated fit issues on me as you can see below). I've emailed them feedback and they essentially gave me the same reply.

I actually bought the Flower tweed jacket, which is extremely similar to the No.5 except with a slimmer + longer/uncropped torso to better suit my figure (5'2" with proportional shoulders, a very narrow ribcage, and practically no curves above the waist) and fewer color options (I wanted black, so that wasn't important to me). Was a bit worried about the synthetic fabric blend but it turned out as expected, which was a relief. The drape is quite nice yet problematic on me because the weight & lack of structure in the fabric coupled with the fact that there are no closures meant that wearing the jacket open (as intended) with arms at my sides resulted in the opening to be too wide at the bottom and the jacket falling into a bell shape around my stick-skinny upper body. =( Basically, I don't have proportionate curves on top like you do to fill out and hold up the jacket in its proper shape. Just goes to show that petite women are equally varied in size/shape and we each have our own issues/strategies to tackle when buying clothing. Nevertheless, I'm keeping the jacket (with sparkly trim intact since the shine adds dimension to what would otherwise look like a black square on me) despite the width measurement issues since it fits alright in the shoulders, and will sew in some hook-and-eye closures soon.

You look so elegant and polished Jean! I love the white tweed jacket and how you made the blouse look like it was part of the dress by tucking it in and belting it - genius! I'll have to try that myself one day :)

I loved this look a lot when I got a sneak peek of it on Instagram. :) Cheers to another great post.

Did you return the Uniqueen jacket that didn't work out for you? I bought a few things but the return shipping fee to Korea is so expensive so it almost wasn't worth it.

Based on your rave reviews this past winter, I also located the H&M blouse you're wearing in the both ivory and green color. I'm sure you get this a lot but your reviews (and other tips) have definitely helped me find versatile, quality pieces at a great price so thank you!

I actually sent it to Elle of fastfoodandfashion who was interested in it and she sent it back in exchange for a white. The ivory blouse is an all-time H&M fave! It's so versatile and I'm glad you were able to locate them.

You look gorgeous, Jean! I also think it's one of my favorite things about fashion blogging--creating and curating our own individual, personal styles. I'm not sure what my personal style would be called, but I love feminine pieces with a colorful (and sometimes edgy) twist. So fun! <3